Distributing apparatus



Sept. 10, 1946. w. c. EWALDSON. 2,407,542

I DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS I Filed May 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l I FIG.

. I I l INVENTOR 2 m6. EWALDSON A T OR/I/EY Sept. 10, 1946. w. c. EWALDSON 2,407,542

DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 nv l/EN rok we. EWALDSON A ran/var Sept. 10, 1946.

w. c. EWALD$ON DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1945 4 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR w. c. Em LDSON 1 I Patented Sept. 1Q, 1946 DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Waldemar C. Ewaldson, Millington, N. 5., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New'York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 12, 1945',"Serial'N0.593,506

This invention relates to distributing apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for distributing strands on reels.

In distributin strands, for example, switch- I board cable or the like on takeup reels, various conditions arise makingit desirable to vary the distributing'limits of the strands and to make other adjustments in the lay of the strands on the reels While the strands are advancing to com pensate for these varying conditions. For example, reels of various widths or distances between their heads may be used in taking up strands or cable, and in such instances, it is desirable to vary the distributing limits of the strand or cable. Furthermore, although the material being distributed may be presumed to be of a given diameter or width, there may exist certain variations in these dimensions, making it desirable to further vary the. distributing means to assure uniform laying of thematerial on the takeup reel.'

An'object of the invention is to provide a distributing apparatus for strand material or the like which is simple in structure, efficient in operation, and highly variable, 1

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a distributing apparatus, having a carriage supporting material guiding elements, the carriage having an element driven automatically in reverse directions alternately during predetermined limits of time and between predetermined limits relative to a takeupreel to cause distribution of the material thereon, including also means to vary the limits of the carriage and to render the driven element inoperative automatically and operative manually.

Other objects and advantages will beapparent from the following detailed description when consideredin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein 12 Claims.. (o1.,24215s) Figs. 1 and 2 combined, illustrate a top plan view of the apparatus, portions thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectionalfview taken along the line 4-4 ofFig. 2, illustrating the mechanism therein in one position, opposite that shown. in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary'sectional view taken alongthe line 5-*-5i of Fig. 2. 7

Referring now to the drawingathe apparatu includes housings, indicated generally at l0 and H, spaced from eachother as shown in Figs. 1

and 2, and suitably mounted upon a base not shown. The housing H has a main drive shaft 52 extending therethrough and supported in'suitable bearings Min the walls thereof. A sprocket l5 anda gear l't are fixedly mounted on a shaft at spaced positions as shown in'Fig. 1. A- chain i'i connects the sprocket I5 with a sprocket [8, the latterbeing rotatably mounted upon a reducedpcrtion I9 of-a threaded shaft, 20. The gear Iii interengages a gear'22, the latter being rotatably mounted upon the reduced portion IQ of the threaded shaft 20.

The adjacentend of the threaded shaft 20, particularly the-reduced portion I9 thereof, is journalled in suitable bearings 23, the latter being disposed in apertures in the walls of the housing it. A clutch element Z5 interposed between the sprocket 18' andthegear 22 is slidably mounted upon the shaft portion l9-and is keyed thereto as at 26. Theclutch element 25, at each side thereof, is provided withteethor projecting portions 2! for interengagement with similar teeth or-projecting portions 28'ofthe sprocket l8 and thegear 22. a It will therefore be apparent that the threaded shaft 20, through the aid of the clutch element 25, may be operatively connected to the main shaft I2; either through the sprocket and chain connection to be driven in one'direction thereby, orthrough the connection of the gears to be driven in the opposite direction.

A portion of the clutch shifting mechanism includes a yoke'3fl which is fixedly mounted upon a shift rod 32 in the housing [0. A collar 33 is mounted upon the shift rod 32, thiscollar'being cylindrical incontour with a cutaway portion 34 providinga shoulder 35. A latch 36 pivotally supported. at 3'! upon a bracket 38 is normally urged clockwise by a spring- 39- to engage the shoulder when the rod 32 is moved to the right to lock the rod against movement to the left until the latch is actuated against the force of its spring. The means for accomplishing this result will hereinafter be described. Returning for a moment to the latch 36, attention is directed to its contour sh'ownin Fig. 3 where, the end 40 thereof positioned to engage the shoulder 35 is offset from the portion adjacent the pivot 31 and also an outwardly projecting portion 42 which is positionedtobe engaged by a plunger 43. The plunger 43 i movab-ly supported in a bearing 44 and projects outside the housing as illustrated .inFig. 3. An adjustable element 45- threadedly disposed in an. arm 46 of a carriage 41' and held in adjusted position byv a nut 48 will strike the outer end of the p1unger43 when the carriage 3 is moved to the left to cause the plunger to operate the latch 36.

The carriage 41 is mounted for reciprocation upon a rod 59, the ends of the rod being supported at 5! in the housing i8 and at 52 in the housing ll. Threaded elements 53 mounted in the ends of the aperture 54 of th carriage provide the operative connection between the threaded shaft and the carriage. The purpose of the carriage in the present instance is to distribute strand material such as cable 55 upon a takeup reel (not shown). To accomplish this result, parallel guide pins 56 are mounted at spaced positions upon the carriage, their distances apart being equal to, or slightly greater than, the width of the cable 55. An aperture 59 is formed in the carriage, one end of the aperture being threaded to receive an adjustable bushing 68, the latter being held in any selected adjusted position by the aid of a lock nut 6 I. The bushing 69 is for the shift rod 32, the latter extending through the carriage and also through a tubular rack 52 which is slidably disposed in the aperture 59. The teeth 63 of the rack 62 are engaged by a pinion 64, the latter being mounted upon a shaft 65 which extends upwardly through suitable bearings 66 in the carriage and has a hand wheel 51 mounted upon the upper end thereof as shown in Fig. 3. Through the aid of this mechanism, the rack 62 may be adjusted in the carriage to position its outer end 68 a desired distance from the left side of the carriage. A compression spring 69, disposed concentric with the rod 32 in a housing 18 therefor, may be engaged by the rack 62 and compressed to create a force necessary for the shifting of the yoke 30 to the left to cause the clutch element to connect the gear 22 to the threaded shaft 28.

By placing Figs. 1 and 2 in correct alignment, attention is directed particularly to the mechanism in the housing II, It will be noted that the right end of the threaded shaft 20 is journalled in a bearing 12 and has a pinion 13 mounted upon the reduced end thereof. The rod 32 extends through an aperture 14 in the inner wall of the housing H and is slidably disposed in a bearing 15 in the outer wall of the housing. A compression s ring 16 is disposed concentric with the rod 32 and is positioned to be engaged by the bushing 60 during movement of the carriage 4! to the right. The inner end of the spring 18 is held by a clip- 17 adjacent a hub or supporting ortion 18 of a control element 19.

The portion 18 is cylindrical in general contour and is notched at 88 to receive the end 8| of a latch 82. The latch 82 is pivotally supported at 83 upon a bracket 84. the latter being mounted u on the inner wall of the housing I I. A spring 85 normally urges the latch counterclockwise to urge the end 8| thereof toward the rod 32 for engagement with the notch 88 in the support 18. The general contour of the latch is best observed by viewing Fig. 5 with Fig. 2 which illustrate the port on or end 8| offset from the main portion of the latch supported by the pivot 83. The upper end 86 of the latch is positioned to be engaged by a finger 8! mounted upon the carriage 41 to move the latch 82 into its open position at the end of the movement of the carriage in this direct on.

Another control element 90 similar in structure to the control element 19 is mounted upon the rod 32, these control elements being disposed a given distance apart so that they may be under the control of cams 9| and 92. The cams 9| and either direction.

92 are fixedly mounted upon a shaft 93, the latter being mounted for rotation as well as axial movement in suitable bearings 94 and 95, the latter being formed in the housing H. A gear 93, although positioned out of engagement with the pinion 13 during the automatic operation of the apparatus, may be manually moved into ngagement with the pinion for selective adjustment or manual actuation of the carriage in During the time the gear 96 engages the pinion 73, the cam 92 is disposed away from the control elements 19 and 58, while the cam 9| is positioned between th control elements to maintain the clutch element 25 in its neutral position.

By viewing Fig. 4, it will be noted that the control elements 19 and 59, which are identical in structure with the exception of the variation in the contour of their supporting portions, have slots 91 therein to cooperate with a pin 98, the ends of which ride in th slots. The pin 98 is carried by a collar 99, the latter being mounted concentric with the shaft 93 so that the shaft ma rotate relative thereto, but movable axially with the shaft due to a shoulder I88 of the shaft at one side of the collar and a sleeve [8| interposed between the collar and the cam 9|. One of the purposes of this structure is to impart a partial rotary movement to the rod 32 during the movement of the control elements from the solid line position (Fig. 4) to the dotted line position therein to move either notch 34 or 88 from its latch 38 or 82 to facilitate disconnection of the power means from the threaded shaft 28. The slots 9'1, therefore, serve as cams cooperating with the ends of the pin 98 during the axial movement of the shaft 93 to bring about rocking of the rod 32 when it is desirable to convert the apparatus from the automatic power drive operation to the manual operation. The cam 9! functions in cooperation with the control elements 19 and 98 to shift the rod 32 and the clutch element 25 into the neutral position. A hand wheel I03 mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 93 enables the operator to bring about the desired movements of the shaft. The cam 92 is positioned between the elements 19 and 98 when the apparatus is set for the automatic operation as illustrated in Fig. 4 so that by rotating the shaft 93, either clockwise or counterclockwise, the operator may connect the clutch element 25 with either the sprocket [8 or the gear 22, the high portion I04 of the cam 92 engaging either of the control elements 99 Or 19 to bring about this result.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed that the carriage 4'! has been stopped adjacent the center of the threaded shaft 25] and that the operator is desirous of starting the operation to distribute the cable or material 55 near the head of a takeup reel. The operator will then force the shaft 93 inwardly causing first rotation of the rod 32 through the action of the pin 98 in the cam slots 91 of the elements 19 and 98 to disengage Whatever latch 36.or 82 is engaged after which the cam 99 will be moved into engagement with either locating elements 19 or 99, depending upon which direction the rod 32 had previously been shifted, to move the rod into the neutral position shown and finally move the gear 96 into engagement with the pinion 13. This having been accomplished, the apparatus is in condition for manual operation thereof through rotation of the shaft 93 to impart rotary movement to the threaded shaft and move the carriage '4] in thezdesired direction to that .positionrwhere itiis-ito startthe' automatic operation for the .distribution of the material on the reel. The operator then pulls the shaft 93 outwardly toidisengage thev gear 96 from the pinion 13, to-pos'itionthe notches 3'4 :and

-80 for engagement with their respective latches 36 and 82 to remove the cam .9l from between the elements 19 and Stand position the cam 92 between these elements 'whereby"r.the operator may, upon rotation of the shaft 93, through the aid ofthe hand wheel Hi3, condition "the. apparatus so that the initial movement of *thecarriage under the automatic operation will be in the desired direction. Assuming "that the carriage is to start its movement toward theright,

the operator will rotate the ;shaf;t93' counterclockwise to movethe rod 32 tothe left to cause the clutch element '25 to engagewith the gear 22. v the gear 22 will be driven in the direction of the arrow to cause the threadedsh'aft 20 to move the carriage to the right." This movement of the carriage will continue so as'to distribute the cable onto the reel in this .directioniuntil the bushing has engaged and compressed the spring '16 and the fingerv 8l'fhas engaged the. end 86 of the latch 82 and forced the latch, particularly 'the'end 8| thereof, out'of the notch 89. The force'created in the spring '16 will at this time shift the rod 32 to the right causing disengagement of the clutch element 25 with the gear 22 and engagement of the clutch element withthe sprocket E8 to reverse the direction of rotation of the threaded shaft 29 and cause the carriage to move to the left; The shifting of the rod 32 tothe' right also positions the shoulder 35 of the notch 34 to beengaged by the end Upon rotation :of'the main drive shaft l2,

0 of'the latch 36 so'as to maintain thisconnection between the clutch element and the sprocket until the end of the movement of the carriage to the left. As the carriage approaches the; end of its travel to the left, theend 68 of the rack 62 will engage the spring 69 :and compress the spring before the plunger 43 disengages the latch 36 from the shoulder so that the force-created in the spring will shift the rod 32 and with it-the yoke '30 to shift the clutch element '25 out of engagement with the sprocket l8 and into engagement with the gear 22.

This operation may continue until the reel has been'filled or until the desiredlength of cable has been distributed thereon, after wh'ichthe ap paratus may be stopped and'a new reel disposed in place of the filled reel. The apparatus'may then again be readily adjusted to'start distribution of the cable upon the empty reel through the mechanism illustrated, particularly in Figs." 2, 4

and 5. Although the function of the manual control means has been described for use prior,

to the starting of the automatic operation, it can also be used to interrupt the o'peration'to make other adjustments if desirable. The travel of the carriage is between two variable limiting means, one including the bushing 59 with its'lock nut 5! to vary the time of operation of the'latch 82. The other limiting means includes the rack 52 and a mechanism for moving the rack re1a-- tive to the carriage to vary the position of theend 58 with respect to the left side of the car riage to control the releasing of thelatch 3B and the shifting of the clutch element depending the pinion) to move the rack in either direction with'respect to'the carriage and can be :made, if so desired, during the automatic operationrof the apparatus.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown. and described, it-will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from-the scope and spirit of this invention'as defined by the appended claims- What is claimed is:

E 1. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a threaded shaft rotatable in reverse directions to support the distributor and move it alternately in reverse directions between given limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in rerotate the shaft in either direction for adjustment of the distributor. I

2; An'apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a threaded shaft rotatable in reversedirections to support the distributor and move it alternately in reverse directions betweengiven limits, separate driving means to sirigly rotate the'shaft in reverse directions when operatively' connected to the shaft, a unit, having a neutral position, movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, means under'the control of 'the distributor to alternately move the unit into operating positions at the said given limits, means'to disconnect the unit from either driving means, auxiliary means movable into operative engagement with the threaded shaft to rotate the shaft in eitherdirection for adjustment of the distributor, and means actuable to into eitheroperativeposition.

3. An apparatus for distributing material com prising a reciprocable distributorf'or material, a

upon the desired position of the carriage. This adjustment is made, through'the rotation of the shaft aided by the hand wheel 61 ,to rotate threaded shaft rotatable in reversedirection's to support the distributor and, move it alternately in reverse directions between given limits, separate 'riving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected to the shaft, a unit, having a neutral position, movable into either'operat'ing position to connect either driving means tothe shaft, means under the control of the distributor to alternatel move the unit into operating positions at the said given limits, means to disconnect the unit from either driving means, auxiliary means movable into op erative engagement with the threaded shaft to rotate the shaft in either direction for adjustment of the distributor, and means to vary one of the said limits relative to the other.

4. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a threaded shaft rotatable in reverse directions to support the distributor and move italternately in reverse-directions between given limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected to the shaft, a unit, having a neutral position, movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, means under the control of the distributor to alternately move the unit move the unit v into operating positions at the said given limits, means to disconnect theunit from either driving means, auxiliary means movable into operative engagement with the threaded shaft to rotate the shaft in either direction for adjustment of the distributor, and means to vary one of the said limits relative to the other during movement of the distributor.

5. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a threaded shaft rotatable in reverse directions to supportthe distributor and move it alternately in reverse directions between given limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected to the shaft, a unit, havinga neutral position, movable into either "operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, a reciprocable rod operatively connected to the unit to move the unit into its various positions, means under the control of the distributor to alternately move the rod in opposite directions when the distributor is moved adjacent the said limits to alternately move the unit into the operating positions, means to move the rod to move the unit into its neutral position, and auxiliary means movable into operative engagement With the threaded shaft to rotate the shaft in either direction for adjustment of the distributor.

6. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a threaded shaft rotatable in reverse directions to support the distributor and move it alternatly in reverse directions between given limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected to the shaft, a unit, having a neutral position, movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, a reciprocable rod operatively connected to the unit to move the unit into its various positions, separate latches adjacent the said limits to releasably hold the unit singly in the operating positions, means carried by the distributor to alternately release the latches,

and means controlled by the distributor to move the rod when released to move the unit into the other operating position.

'7. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a

threaded shaft rotatable in reverse directions to support the distributor and move it alternately in reverse directions between given limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected ,to the shaft, a unit, having a neutral position, movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, a reciprocable rod operatively connected to the unit to move-the unit into its various positions, separate latches adjacent the said limits to releasably hold the unit singly in the operating positions, means carried by the distributor to alternately release the latches, means controlled by the distributor to move the rod when released to move the unit into the other operating position, means actuatable to release either latch, means to move the rod to move the unit into its neutral position, and means movable into operative engagement with the threaded shaft to cause movement of the distributor in either direction.

8. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a

threaded shaft rotatable in reverse directions to support the distributor and move it alternately in reverse directions between given limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected to the shaft, a unit, having a neutral position, movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaftga reciprocable rod operatively connected to the unit to move the unit into its various positions, separate latches adjacent thesaid limits to releasably hold the unit singly in the operating positions, means carried by the distributor to alternately release the latches, means controlled by the distributor to move the rod when released to move the unit into the other operating position, means to rotate the rod to release either latch, means to move the rod to move the unit into its neutral position, and

means movable into operative engagement with tributor in either direction.

9. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a threaded shaft rotatable'in reverse directions to support the distributor and move it alternately in reverse directions between given limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected to the shaft, a unit, having aneutral position, movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, a reciprocable rod operatively connected to the unit to move the unit into its various positions, separate latches adjacent the said limits to releasably hold the unit singly in the operating positions, means carried by the distributor to alternately release the latches, means controlled by the distributor to move the rod when released to move the unit into the other operating position, means actuatable to release either latch during movement of the distributor in either direction, means to move the .rod to move the unit into its neutral position, and means movable into operative engagement with the threaded shaft to cause movement of the distributor in either direction.

10. An apparatus for" distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for material, a threaded shaft rotatable in reverse directions to support the distributor and move it alternately in reverse directions between given limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected to the shaft, a unit, having a neutral position, movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, a reciprocable rod operatively connected to the unit to move the unit into its various positions, separate latches ad jacent the said limits to releasably hold the unit singly in the operating positions, means carried by the distributor to alternately release the latches, means controlled by the distributor to move the red when released to move the unit into the other operating position, means actuatable to release either latch, means to move the rod to move the unit into its neutral position, means movable into operative engagement with the threaded shaft to cause movement of the distributor in either direction, and means to move the rod in either direction to selectively move the unit into either operative position.

11. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for mate in reverse directions when operatively connected to the ;sh aft,a unit, having a neutral position,

movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, a reciprocalble rod operatively connected to the unit to move the unit into its various positions, separate latches adjacent the said limits to releasably hold the unit singly in the operating positions, means carried by the distributor to alternately release the latches, means controlled by the distributor to move the rod when released to move the unit into the other operating position, means actuatable to release either latch, means to move the rod to move the unit intoits neutral position, means movable into operative engagement with the threaded shaft to cause movement of the distributor in either direction and means to move the rod in either direction to selectively move the unit into either operative position and condition the respective latch to hold the unit in the selective position.

12. An apparatus for distributing material comprising a reciprocable distributor for mate- 10 rial, a threaded shaft rotatable in reverse directions to support the distributor and move it alternately in reverse directions between given limits, means to vary the said limits, separate driving means to singly rotate the shaft in reverse directions when operatively connected to the shaft, a unit, having a neutral position, movable into either operating position to connect either driving means to the shaft, a reciprocable rod oper atively connected to the unit to move the unit into its various positions, means under the control of the distributor to alternately move the rod in opposite directions when the distributor is moved adjacent the said limits to alternately move the unit into the operating positions, means to move the rod to move the unit into its neutral position, and auxiliary means movable into operative engagement with the threaded shaft to rotate the shaft in either .direction for adjustment of the distributor.

WALDEMAR C. EWALDSON. 

